Thread-controlling mechanism for sewing-machines.



G. L. GORCORAN, G. A. DOBYNE &A. R. SGHOBNKY. THREAD GONTROLLING MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1l, 1911. Y lp. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

7 @am l G. L. GORCORAN, G. A. DOBYNE a A. R. SGHOENKY. THREAD GONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1911.

jlplgpQo Patented IJa1r.30,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@W4/Ww" G. L. GORCORAN, G. A. DOBYNE Az. A. R. SGHOENKY. THREAD GONTROLLING MEGEANISM EOE SEWING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1911.

l 0134@ @35. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. L. GORGOEAN, G. A. DOBYNE da A. R. SGHOEN-KY. THREAD GONTEOLLIIIG MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1l, IQII. IQIGQIQGSSS. I Patente@ Mar. 30, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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maan sanas Parana onirica.

GEORGE L. coRcoE'AN, GEORGE A. noBYNE, AED AUGUST n. scnoEN'KY, or sr. tours,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS T0 CHAMPION SHOE MAQHINEBY CO-lllIPANY, OF ST. LUIS,Y

MISSOURI, A. lCOIRCEORA'IION' 0F MISSOURI.

THREADLCONTROLLIEG MEcHArTIsi/i 'Eon SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 11, 1911. Serial 110.638,024.

chines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to thread controlling means therefor.

One of the objects of this invention is to construct a thread controlling mechanism which will positively and uniformly set the stitches irrespectiveof the thickness of the work, and which will accurately measure off thread from the supply for the dierent stitches, the amount of measured thread being varied and controlled automatically in accordance with the thickness of the work.

Anotherobject-is to provide a novel and positive lock which is simple in construcconsists of a few parts, and is easily assembled and disassembled.

Another' object is to construct a thread controlling mechanism in which the functions of certain of its elements are combined so as to work together and be operated from a common actuator; and to make the controlling connection to the workengaging member a simple and .direct connection, thereby reducing the number of parts yand providing a simple construction which is vnot liable to get out of repair.

Further objects will appear from the detail description .taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machine embodying-this invention, Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation from the other side of the 'machine showing the thread controlling mechanism, Fig. 3 is a detail plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2,' Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the thread controlling mechanism from the same side of the machine as Fig. 1, Fig. 5 shows in perspective details of the thread-lock, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation from the opposite side 'of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1. l

The machine to which this invention is applied may besuch as is shown and described in application Serial No. 631,290. In said application the thread controlling mechanism is shown combined with ,the elements of the stitch forming mechanism and accessory parts, and the same parts are herein designated by the same reference charac ters as in said application.

The machine to which this invention is shown as applied is an outsole stitcher, al-

though it may be applied to other types of machines.

1n the accompanying drawings, 25 designates a column upon which is mounted a head or base 26 having formed thereon a lug 27 provided with bearings for a shaft 28 which supports a series of actuating levers as described in said application. A pair of brackets 29 are bolted to the head and provided With bearings for a main drive shaft rammed naar. ao, reis.

sol

30 which supports three cam wheels, one of which is shown at A-and the other at C, and the third wheel (not shown) is supported between these two as described in said application. The right-hand bracket looking from the front of the machine has formed thereon a forwardly extending lug 31 to provide a bearing for the take-up actuating lever. The head 26 has castv integral therevwith a lug 32'forming bearings for various mechanisms. A casting 35 is bolted to the lug'32 and supports the shuttle racev 39 and its shuttle. A bracket 40 is bolted to the head 26 and is provided with an arm 42 forming a bearing for the take-up shaft.

The curved hook needle is shown at 52, the thread lifter at 70, the thread holder at 80, and the looper at 82. The feed slide 101 is supportedin its guideway 100 and supports the curved awl 103.

rIhe above mechanisms are vfully described in dsaid application to which reference is A work support 129 is mounted upon the casting 35 and is provided with an oblong slot for the awl' and needle, as is common in machines of this type, and with a lug 130 forming a gage for the edge of the sole. The presser-foot 131 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 79 supported between the lug 32 and a bracket 7 7 on 32, and this presserfoot has a rearwardly extending arm 132 rigidly connected thereto. An arm 133 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 79 and iswiththe arm 132 holds the engaged by a yieldingly connected to ythe arm 132 by means of a link 134, a spring `135 and an 'adjusting nut. The arm 133 is provided with Aa rack or ratchet 136 adapted to be an actuating ever 138 pivoted at'its rear endon the head 26. A springi139 bears on the dog and throws it into engagement with the rack and the actuating lever is provided witha cam roll 140 engaging a cam groove in one of the cam wheels. The arm 132 is also provided with a rack 141 adapted t0 be engaged by' a dog 142 which is held 1n -en gagement therewith by means of a spring 143.

to throw it out of engagement with the rack 136 when the actuating lever 133 is moved. to its lowered position. The lever 138 is prov ided with a heel 145 adapted to engage the` tail-piece 146 on the dog 142 to throw it out of engagement with the rack 141. In this way both dogs are`thrown out of engage# ment with their racks when the actuating lever is moved to lowered positionby its cam.

A link 148 connects the arm 132 with an arm 149 on a shaft 150, and a comparatively presser-:footv is :unlocked andthe increased pressure released so `rthatii'the presser-foot willf'be on.ly .nnder the, tension o f the light s 151 during "suchzfeeding dperation.

'fthe completionpf thegs'ttclrthe pressera foot isA also unlocked andreleased so that it ma'. beraisedaahis-eme. usefully des'r'xbed'in the"applicationjreferred to. It Willglge A,seen thatthef presser-foot will automatically-accommodatetsHto Vthe thicki ness'of the work on-the wrk'support, and

that itwill positively positgnthe shaft 150 connections 149,

tlrough the 1ever. anaglink 148,132.

thread controlling mechanism consiste o'ffa take4up member fandfa Vcoperating thld lfpldf notion, namely tofk upand set the -stit'c fandto.drawlthread-from the supply.

The 'thread-lockfisarranged to lock or clamp the ,thread while hetake-up `member operatesgtq takelupfthe thread'- and, set the stitch,

andthe threadlloek' opens thereafter during pawl or dog 137 mounted upon A fixed pin 144y on thelug 32 'adapted to be engaged'by the dog 137 so as Q Ck. Y. The take-up memberhas at'woi thelatter partof the movement of the. take;

up member topermit said'mem'ber to draw threadironrtheource ofsupply.

Theismann news1-throught@ 15g* f and has keyed theretofoirer ofthe clam members or elements 160I f the threadook.

.The coperating clamping member or ele- A ment 161 of the thread-lock is loosely mount ed upon the shaft 150 so as to be. capable of angular displacement with respect to the member 160, and' is provided with a pin or roll 162 adapted to be engaged by a toe on the take-up member -as hereinafter dewith a cam groove or incline 163 extending across its face and thelock member161 is provided with cam projections 164 adapted to coperatewith the groove 163. The projections 164 consist ofA steel balls loosely mounted in .substantially semi-spherical cavities in the member 161, the cavities being slightly deeper than the radii of the balls, and the edges of the cavities'A being peened over'jto hold the balls loosely in place. Thef'inside face ofthe member 161 is beveled at 165 'adjacent to shaft 150 so as to prevent binding.or cutting of the scribed. The lock member 160 is provided s thread.' The members" 160 and 161 are placed in coperative relation on the shaft 150 with the balls 164 in vthe groove 163, and a spring 166 bearing at one end against the member 161 and at the other end against a 'nut 167 is arranged to hold the members in -yiel'ding engagement. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by means ofthe nut 167 which is provided with a lOCkg-iilt 168.

The groove 163 has its edges beveled androunded as shown in Fig. 5 s o as to permit the balls to ride easily o n the cam portion.

If one of the lock or clamp members is rotated with relation to the other, the balls Willride up on theinclined faces ofthe cam groove so as to separate the thread engaging aces a distance depending upon thenngular displacement ofthese lock members'. If the lock membersare freed, the. spring 166 will tend to move the balls down `the inclines of thecam groove to their lowest position, f

and thus throw the lock members together. The camf roove is of such' a depth that when thfgalls are in position therein, 'the locking memberfaces will be in clamping engagement to clamp the thread. It will thus be seen th'ata rotation or angular movement of the lock member 161 on theshaft 150 will movethe lock member161 away from the lock member 162 against the tension of the spring 166, and that the spring y will return them into engagement.Y 'Iherela` tive rotation of the members is offcourse never enough ofthe groove.

A take-up shaft 169 is supported in bearin the lug 32 and in'a. bracket on the` right side of the machine. This shaft 169 to move the balls entirely out" has secured thereto an arm 170 which is com nected by a link 171 with an arm 172 of an actuator lever mounted upon a shaft 173 in the lug 31. rIhe other arm 17 4 of this lever is provided with a cam roll 175 engaging the cam groove c2 in the cam wheel C. An arm 176 is rigidly secured to the take-up shaft 169 to move therewith, and a take-up arm ormember 177 provided at its end wlth a'.

thread roll or pulley 178 is loosely mounted on the take-np shaft. A threaded link 17 9 is pivotally connected at one end to the arm 176 and passes through a trunnion member' 180 pivotally connected to the take-up arm device (not shown), thro'u h the wax pot,

(not shown) throughv a tu e 184, between the lock members, over a loose guide pulley 185, over thepulley 178 on the take-up arm, through the eye in the looper, and through I the slotin the work support 129. The pulley 185 is provided with a bridge 18ha (Fig. 3) tovhold the thread in place.

The operation of the thread controlling mechanism is as follows: After a loop of thread is on the shuttle and ready to be discharged therefrom, the take-up cam groove c2 will through its connections operate the take-up arm 177 so as to move it down and take up the thread. At the beginning of the take-up movement the take-up armwill be in the dotted position Fig. 4, and the'toe 183 will be out of engagement with the roll 162 so that the spring 166 will clam the lock members-together to firmly lock orc amp the thread. The thread will thus be clamped at a point between the takeup arm and the source of supply, and will remain clamped or locked while the take-up arm takes up the thread and also while it sets the stitch. Near the limit of the stroke of the take-up arm, and after the stitch has been set, the toev183 will engage the roll 162 and further movement of the take-up arm will cause the toe to rotate the look member 161 counterclockwise and spread the lock members apart in the manner hereinbefore described so as to release or unclamp the thread. The thread being thus released, the take-up arm will operate during the last p art of its str-,oke to draw or measure thread for the neXt stitch from the source of supply. At the limit of the stroke of the take-up arm (shown in full lines in the drawings) the thread-lock will be fully opened. lt will therefore be seen that during the downward movement or stroke ofthe take-up lever,

th read is given up to the shuttle.

which' may for convenience be. termed the take-up stroke, this take-up lever performs two functions: ln the first part of its movement it will take up and set the stitch, and-thereafter this lever will act as a pill-Loli" to draw or measure from the supply an amount of thread suiicientto form the next stitch. The opening of the thread-lock determines the end of theAtake--up action and the beginning of the thread drawing action of the taken-up lever. As the take-up arm starts to move back, the toe will in the first part of its movement move out of engagement with the roll on the lock member' and thus the spring 166 will operate to move this lock member 160 back lin position to clamp the thread. ln referring to the shape of the cam groove c2 Fig. 1, it will be seen that the take-up arm moved in steps is giventwopreliminary movements during the irst part of the cycle of operations of forming a stitch. The iirst movement is for the purpose of releasing the locking member 161 so as to clamp the thread and for the purpose of relievingthe tension of the thread, and the.` .purpose of the second movement is to give up thread to the looper. The third or final movement is the one in which the It will thus be seen that the take-up arm performs the double function of taking up and setting the stitch, and of drawing or measuring thread from the source of supply. Dierent thick- .nesses of stock however require dierent amounts of measured thread, and means must be provided for varying the amount of measured thread in accordance with the thickness of the stock. This is accomplished as follows: It will be noted that the take-up arm engages the roll 162 in the latter` part of its stroke, and that the take-up arm moves through a fixed arc and to a liXed limit during its take-up and thread drawing stroke. It will therefore be seen that if the take-up member could be made to engage the roll earlier or later in its stroke it would open the lock earlier or later and thus the thread drawing movement of the take-up arm would be increased or decreased. This can be accomplished by moving the take-up engaging portion of the lock with respect to the take-up arm. The'shaft 150 and the lock member 160 keyed thereto are connected to the presser-foot through the lever and. link connections 149, 148, 132. Since the Work support 129 is rigid, the movable work engaging member or presser-foot v131 will vary in its position in accordance with the thickness of the work, and thus the lock member 160 connected to the presser-foot will vary in its position in accordance with the thickness of the work. Since the lock member 161 is normally connected to and movable with the lock member 160, this lock member and the roll 162 connected therewith will vary in position with'respect to the toe 183m accordance with the thickness 4 of the work." Thus as the thickness of the work increases the shaft 150 andthe roll 162 between the presser-foot and the thread-lock so that the thread-lock will be positively adjusted bodily with respect to its actuator in order tovary the point of engagement and therefore the point vat which-the lock is opened. This direct connection together with the combining of the Jr'unctions of the l dierent velements .ofthe thread' controlling mechanism not only simplifythe construction,l but also result. in a reduction of operating eXv ense and facilitates renewal of parts. he lock members are so arranged that the locky may be easily taken apart for cleaning purposes which is necessary in wax thread sewing machines. Thus order to disassemble thelock, -it is only necessary to move the take-up lever to dotted position Fi e which will .throw the toeout offthe pat of the lock or clamping .member 1 61 when this member can' be easlly. slipped off of the shaft by removingthe nuts 167 and 168. It will therefore be seen that in ac'- 'i cordance. with' this/invention the thread is f measured automatically inaccordance with the thickness of the work 'sc that the lock will be drawn a uniform distance from the 1 surface of the work, irrespective ofits thickness. This is accomplished by varying the.. thread drawing action of the take-up mecha`' msm, and by giving ,the thread-lock a vari-y able action so as to, release thepthread at a thereby in epedently adJustm variable point. In order tqadjust the mechanism independent of, its :automatic;means, such for instance as fonffpreliminary adjustments or for di'erent lengths of stitches,l

the take-up arm 177 can -beradjustedgby lengthenin and shorteningvthe .fflink. 179,

'I the takeup arm with respect to the threa lock The machine is providedr y'thmechanism for stopping it- 'm .mined position. Such mechanisnrjasbeen fully described 1n the application "'ee'rredf to'. .This stoppin mech 2oigan. ordinary c utch,;; in machine is provided withfposit ning comprising a pointer 201 on'th'e ra an a mark 202 on the camwheel' C 'tliemachine being provided with the.usualhand. wheel-l forturningl it over. The machinelmayjglse -tive1y supporte be provided .with autmatic 'stopping -mech. anism for automaticallyarresting it in a lpredetermined position.,l The 1nstrumentalities together with their actuators are so c011- structed and arranged and timed that at the. completion of the stitch these instrumentalitiesare in a position to permit removal of the work at the completion, of the stitch. At the completion* ofthe stitch the awl and needle will be-out'of the work, the presserfoot will be unlocked, and the take-up arm will be at the limit of its downward stroke` so that the. lock will at this time be vopen so as to release the thread. The stop ing mechanism is arranged to stop the mac ine at this time or at the completion of the stitch. The work canthereforebe removed at the completion of the stitch, and since the presser-foot is unlocked at this time the raising of the presser-foot will further open the lock so as to Acompletely release the thread. This has been fully vdescribed in the application referred to.

It is obvious that various changes may be` made in the details of construction without departing fromthis invention,' and it is therefore to be understood that thisr invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described, .Y

Having thus described the invention 'what is claimed is: v

1. In a sewing machine, the combination of a member constructed to takcup and 1set the stitch and draw thread from the sup,

ply, a thread-lock separate from said member, an actuating connection between said seY ico

member and thread-lock constructed to cause said member to actuate -said threadf lock and release the threadduring the takeup stroke of said member, and means for operating' said member and thread-lock, saidmeans being-constructed to causesaid member to take up-and set the stitch and draw thread from the supply.

A 2. In alsewing machine, the combination of a thread-lock, an actuator therefor, a take-up member connected with said actuator, means for moving said actuator to en- .gage and open said threadlock during the take-upystroke of'said take-up member, and

v means-for relatively adjustin said lthread- Alock-and actuator automatica ly 11n accord-l structed to-cause said actuator*"'all'idj'tl'ires'idl lockftoy engagelearler or` later d strokeof the take-up member.

3. `In a sewing machine, the combination of;- thread 'engaging means having a' `'rotatuator adapted to actuate said actuated menv to...ad jus said member.`

actuated member, an :ac--

sewing machine, the combination" ber, and-.a workengaging member connected '.actuated member rotativelykgv tgva foPQration of said actuator 'on of thread engaging means-having a rotatively supported actuated member, an actuator adapted to engage and actuate said actuated member, and a work engaging member connected to adjust said actuated member rotatively to vary the point of engagement of said actuator and said actuated member during the movement of said actuator.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination of thread engaging means having an actuated member, a rotatable shaft for sup'- porting lsaid actuated member, an actuator, a rotatable shaft for said actuator positioned parallel with said first shaft, and a work engaging member connected t0 adjust said first shaft rotatively to vary the operation of said actuator on said actuated member.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination of a thread-lock, a supporting shaft therefor, a take-up lever having means thereon to operate said thread-lock, and a work engaging member connected 'to adjust said shaft rotatively to vary the operation of s aid takeu.p lever on saidthread-lock.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination of thread measuring means including a'.

thread engaging member, an actuator, means for moving said actuator to engage a part of and actuate said thread engaging member, a work engaging member for adjusting said thread engaging member to move said engaged part thereof toward and from said actuator, and means for adjusting said actuator toward and from said engaged part of said thread engaging member.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination of thread measuring means including a thread engaging member, an actuator movable to engage a part of and actuate said thread engaging member, means `'for automatically adjusting said thread engaging member to move said engaged part thereof toward and from said actuator in accordance with the thickness of the work, and means' for manually adjusting said actuator toward and from said engaged part of said thread engaging member.

9. In a sewing machine, thread measuring mechanism including in combination, a thread lock, a stitch setting take-up separate from said thread-lock constructed and operated to draw from the supply and through said thread-lock an amount of thread suficient to form the neXt stitch, an actuator for said thread lock, and means for automatically adjusting said thread lock to move a part thereof1 toward and from said actuator, constructed to vary the thread locking action of said thread-lock in, accordance with the thickness of the work. 1

10. In a sewing machine, the combination cf means for locking the thread against movement, a stitch. setting take-up member having a thread engaging part and having a part thereon adapted to engage and actuate said thread locking means during the take-up stroke to release the thread, and means for.

ing member having a connection with the other clamping member.

12. In a sewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a pair of relatively rotative thread clamping members, an actuator having a connection with one of said clamping members to rotate it with respect to the other clamping member, a carrier for said clamping members, and a work engaging member having a connection with said carrier. l 13. In a sewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a pair of relative rotative thread clamping members having their coperating thread clamping faces provided with cooperating cam portions constructed to cause axial separation of said clamping members when said members are relatively rotated.

14. In a sewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a pair of relatively rotative clamping members having means whereby a relative rotation of said members will cause an axial separation, an actuator constructed to relatively rotatesaid clamping members, a rotatable shaft for supporting said members, and means for moving said shaft rotatively with respectto said actuator.

l5. In 'a sewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a pair of relatively movable thread clamping members, the thread clamping face of one of said members being provided with an incline and the thread clamping face of the other with an antifriction roller movably retained therein and cooperating with said incline.

16. In a ysewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a pair Aof relativelymovable thread clamping members, one of said members being provided with an incline and the other with a roller movable therewith and coperating with said-incline.

17. In a sewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a rotatable shaft, a pair of clamping members one rotatable with and the other rotatable on said shaft, and an actuator for rotating the second clamping member.

18. In a sewing machine, a thread-lock comprising a shaft, a pair of clamping members one movable with and the other movable on said shaft, an actuator for the second clamping member, and a work engaging member connected to said shaft. j

19. In a sewing machine, ,a thread-loch comprising a shaft, a pair of clamping members mounted on said shaft, one of said clamping members being fixed to said shaft and the other member beingrotatable on lsaid shaft, an actuator for said rotatable clamping member, and means for rotating said shaft.

20. Ina -sewing machine, a thread-lockn comprising a pair of .relatively rotative thread clamping members, a pin on one of said clamping members, an actuator movablel to engage' said pin and relatively rotatefthe clam ing members, and means for adjusting sai pin relatively to,` said actuator.

21.. In a sewing machine, a 'threadlock comprising a shaft, a pair ofclamping member's one movable with and the other rotatable on said shaft, a pin ontherotatable.

member', an actuator adapted to engage said pin and rotate the clamping member, anda work i engaging member connected to said shaft`..

, 22.. In a sewing machine, the combination of a stitch setting take-up member having a thread engaging part, a thread-lock separate from said take-up member compristhreadclamping members near the end of the take-up stroke of said take-up member.

24. In a sewing machine, the combination of a' take-up member havlng a thread en gaging part, a thread-lock comprising a pair of -thread clamping members, a carrier for said thread clamping members, a work engaging member having a connection with said carrier, and means for operating said` take-up member and for moving said thread clamping members relatively constructed to separate said thread clamping members near the end of the take-up stroke o f said take-upl member. v e

25. -In a sewing machine, the combination of a stitch setting take-up member having a thread engaging part, a thread tension separate from said take-up member, means for operating said'take-up member to cause said take-up member to take up and set the stitch, and means operating throughrsaid take-up member to actuate said thread sion near the end of the take-up stroke Aci said take-up member to relieve the tension on the thread.

26. Ina sewing machine, 'the combination of Aa .stitch setting take-up lever having 1.a thread engaging part, a thread tension, and

a lug on said take-up lever adapted to engage and actuate said tension near the end of the take-up stroke of said take-up member to relievethe tension on the thread.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. CORCOR-AN. GEORGE A. DOBYNE. AUGUST R. 'SCHOENKY.

Witnesses:

J. H. BRUNINGA, J. Q. PAmRsoN. 

